Serbian Armed Forces Personnel Successfully Participate in Exercise in Bulgaria
Wednesday, 17.6.2026 | Training
Members of the Serbian Armed Forces are taking part in the helicopter units exercise “THRACIAN BLADE 2026”, organized by the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre and held in the area of Krumovo Air Base near Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
The aim of the exercise activities is to improve the capability of the participating countries’ air forces to plan and conduct joint multinational helicopter operations.
Members of the Serbian Armed Forces are participating in the exercise with one H-145 helicopter and one Mi-35 helicopter. During the two-week activities, they practiced route flying, helicopter transport, air assault operations involving personnel and equipment, helicopter operations in an urban environment, combat search and rescue, close air support to ground units, convoy escort and protection, as well as manoeuvres and procedures in response to enemy fighter aircraft and air defence units.
The final segments of the exercise were attended today by the Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence, Major General Brane Krnjajić. Together with representatives of the armed forces of the participating countries and the exercise organizers, he had the opportunity to observe live-fire activities and rocket engagements against ground targets, during which helicopter crews demonstrated their capability to provide precise and effective fire support to forces in operations.
Participation in the work of the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre — of which the Republic of Serbia is a founding member, together with 13 other European Union member states and partner countries — as well as in exercises conducted under its auspices, enhances the capability of the Serbian Armed Forces helicopter units to be engaged in operations in a contemporary operational environment. At the same time, it reaffirms our country’s commitment to cooperation and to the preservation of peace and stability.
